I’m a huge used book store junkie. Partly because I’m a cheap bastard, but even more so, because mainstream bookstores are all the same, and are annoyingly rooted in the present. Used bookstores are all unique, and are like hopping into a time machine and pressing “Quick Pick.”
My favorites so far are Bookleggers on Broadway and Bookworks on Clark, with an honorable mention to Armadillo’s Pillow way up on Sheridan when I can get that far north.
Anyone else have any nominations? I need to expand my repertoire. Thanks!..TRM
The other two small shops I enjoy browsing are Myopic in Wicker Park and Bookworks at 3444 N Clark.
Powell’s on 57th Street in Hyde Park is in a category by itself. The South Loop (828 S Wabash) and Lakeview (2850 N Lincoln) stores are also excellent, with a lot of remainder stock from university presses and Texas Bookman (parent of Half-Price Books). Also on 57th in Hyde Park is O’Gara’s, but it’s not as strong in recent and technical stuff (my interests) as Powell’s.
Half-Price itself is now in the Chicago suburbs, with stores in Niles, Palatine, Bloomingdale, Highland Park, and Countryside. And out in Downers Grove, there’s a branch of Frugal Muse, a big used bookstore from Madison, Wis.
Be sure to come to the Printers Row Book Fair, Dearborn Street between Congress and Polk, which attracts dealers from all over the country. This year, renamed Printers Row Lit Fest, it will be held June 6-7. The same weekend is the opening of what used to be called the Brandeis Book Sale at Old Orchard mall, a weeklong event which has now been taken over by the Little City Foundation. And generally the third week in July is the Newberry Library Used Book Sale, which can be excellent.
I’ve been to that one. Didn’t care for it. Too small, too disorganized, and NO science fiction section to speak of! And I never did know the name of it, other than, “Rare, Medium, and Well Done.” Thanks for cluing me in.
Anyway, thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Please keep them coming! My Jack Vance “Lyonesse” series is not yet complete…TRM
Yes, and AbeBooks.com. They’re great when you’re looking for something specific. But it’s fun rummaging around with all that musty paper and making unexpected discoveries in a crowded shop…TRM
The two that I like and frequent most (probably out of location if anything) are Shake Rattle & Read next to the Uptown Theater and the Gallery Bookstore on Belmont.
I like both because I always end up chatting with the owners. They are both very polite and knowledgeable about all things literature. Also, Gallery makes it a point to have a “No Cell Phones” policy, which is awesome.
Back in the 1960s there were some old time used bookstores along Clark Street, from Lake to around Grand. There was the old ABC Books and Magazines, which was heated by a pot bellied stove, and was the last place in Chicago to have massive holdings of back issue magazines.
There was also the Acme, the Gallery, and perhaps some others now lost to memory. The neighborhood in those days had more in common with Skid Row than its now trendy incarnation of River North.
Downtown now; there is the S. Loop outpost of Powells. A much more charming place is Selected Works Used Books and Sheet Music, now on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building at 410 S. Michigan. It is both airy and cosy and is filled with unusual and scholarly books, as well as a large and varied collection of used sheet music and scores.
Interesting bric-a-brac and a very sociable and energetic store kitten. Decent prices–especially considering its location.
There’s a used book store just south of Chicago - between Chicago and Erie, specifically - that has fairly limited hours, but looks promising. Can’t remember the name. Anyone been there?
The Open Books Bookstore will be opening this fall at 213 W Institute Pl. Open Books is a not-for-profit literacy advocate and all profits go to supporting the cause.
Cecil recently mentioned Ravenswood Used Books, 4626 N. Lincoln, which I also like. Is it small? Yeah. Is it disorganized? Depends on what you consider organized. Great place for serendipitous discovery IMO, and the owner seems to have a pretty good idea what he’s got. Wasn’t looking for SF so can’t speak to that. Worth a look.
Powell’s on Lincoln and Myopic are my favorites, but I also like Bookman’s Alley in Evanston. It occupies several rooms in a shop in the alley on the west side of Sherman Ave. north of Church street and is a great place to meander and find odd books and paper ephemera (Bookworks on Clark in Wrigleyville is also a great place for ephemera) plus the owner has a great collection of random antiques.
I remember the old ABC magazine store at 418 North Clark St. very well. The owners name was Bob. The whole block north of the Clark St bridge had some very good book shops.
Seconding the Selected Works’ recommendation. A triumph of atmosphere! It’s nothing like a Ravenswood or Co-op in volume, but what’s there is nicely curated.
(Though I do wish that they had a bit more turnover in their inventory. The lovely Gorey-designed Anchor trades I snapped up over my first few visits left gaps on the shelf that have never been filled.)
The South Loop Powells’ closed this summer, and the venerable Prairie Avenue architectural bookstore followed shortly after. I wouldn’t wait to visit any of the bookstores mentioned in this thread, and I’d make sure to bring a camera.
I used to go to Selected Works on Broadway and liked it a lot. This weekend I finally visited their new location on S. Michigan, and was VERY disappointed. The science fiction and mystery collections were lumped in with all the other paperback fiction, and NONE of it was alphabetized. Virtually useless for searching.